Parents support controversial rehab

The Health Ministry has sent its inspectors to the Spiritual-Rehabilitation Center Crna Reka, in southwestern Serbia. Minister Tomica Milosavljevic's assistant, Ivana Misic, told B92 that the goal of this will be to determine whether the center has engaged in unqualified medical practice. Parents support controversial rehab At the same time, Citizens Rights Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic has filed criminal complaints against nine of the center's leader and employees, citing physical torture of patients. Belgrade's week Vreme reported about the controversial rehab on Friday, where according to witnesses drug addicts suffer severe beatings as part of their treatment. Vreme's Prvoslav Karanovic, who broke the story, says he believes that his article and photographs published on the weekly's website have encouraged others to come forward and speak about their experiences at the center. Karanovic mentioned some details of the brutality endured by the addicts at Crna Reka, including that they "pull their socks over their trousers" – this, apparently, since they often lose control of their bowels while being beaten. The journalist also said that while the rehab is located on the land owned by the Crna Reka monastery, the monastery itself has nothing to do with it. Those who decide to get rid of their drug habit at the center sign a consent form regarding the therapy they are to receive, and they have no means of leaving the place, says Karanovic. The treatment costs according to the financial status of an addict's family, "EUR 200, 350, 400". Karanovic also said that the Raska District (Sandzak) has become a transit area for drug trafficking, and that "heroin is now cheaper than cannabis" in this part of the country, leading to a growing drug addition problem among the locals. Drug addicts' parents support center However, in a statement issued on Sunday, the parents of addicts treated at the center have supported its work, and warned that the public displaying of the goings-on there does not benefit their children. The press release contains written statements by the addicts themselves, who express complete confidence in the work of people who strive to cure them, and signatures and personal data of their parents. It came after a joint meeting, where the participants agreed to support "these, the only possible methods". "The state institutions have given us no help or support in resolving our situation which can knock on the door of any home as soon as tomorrow," the parents of the drug addicts wrote, and remind that 210 of them are currently "recovering" in Crna Reka. "We, 210 families, are not able to solve the drug addiction problem, not with the help of the referent health institutions, which in our cases have produced no results," the statement said. The parents also voiced their support for the staff at the rehab center, saying that they have "secured safety for our children, took them off the streets and snatched them from certain ruin". The parents say that in case the center shuts down, "210 drug addicts would find themselves in the streets, while their families would be left in total despair and hopelessness".

Parents support controversial rehab

At the same time, Citizens Rights Ombudsman Saša Janković has filed criminal complaints against nine of the center's leader and employees, citing physical torture of patients.

Belgrade's week Vreme reported about the controversial rehab on Friday, where according to witnesses drug addicts suffer severe beatings as part of their treatment.

Vreme's Prvoslav Karanović, who broke the story, says he believes that his article and photographs published on the weekly's website have encouraged others to come forward and speak about their experiences at the center.

Karanović mentioned some details of the brutality endured by the addicts at Crna Reka, including that they "pull their socks over their trousers" – this, apparently, since they often lose control of their bowels while being beaten.

The journalist also said that while the rehab is located on the land owned by the Crna Reka monastery, the monastery itself has nothing to do with it.

Those who decide to get rid of their drug habit at the center sign a consent form regarding the therapy they are to receive, and they have no means of leaving the place, says Karanović.

The treatment costs according to the financial status of an addict's family, "EUR 200, 350, 400".

Karanović also said that the Raška District (Sandžak) has become a transit area for drug trafficking, and that "heroin is now cheaper than cannabis" in this part of the country, leading to a growing drug addition problem among the locals.

Drug addicts' parents support center

However, in a statement issued on Sunday, the parents of addicts treated at the center have supported its work, and warned that the public displaying of the goings-on there does not benefit their children.

The press release contains written statements by the addicts themselves, who express complete confidence in the work of people who strive to cure them, and signatures and personal data of their parents.

It came after a joint meeting, where the participants agreed to support "these, the only possible methods".

"The state institutions have given us no help or support in resolving our situation which can knock on the door of any home as soon as tomorrow," the parents of the drug addicts wrote, and remind that 210 of them are currently "recovering" in Crna Reka.

"We, 210 families, are not able to solve the drug addiction problem, not with the help of the referent health institutions, which in our cases have produced no results," the statement said.

The parents also voiced their support for the staff at the rehab center, saying that they have "secured safety for our children, took them off the streets and snatched them from certain ruin".

The parents say that in case the center shuts down, "210 drug addicts would find themselves in the streets, while their families would be left in total despair and hopelessness".